So from my first month (less than a month, maybe like 3 weeks now) of diving into real estate I have found out that finding DEALS is the most crucial aspect for real estate investing. I have learned that in todays market finding deals requires marketing techniques and having the right connections. Everything on the MLS is so over priced that it made me start thinking and learning how to find deals off market. From people I have met from my first meetings with other local investors that they recommend using wholesalers. These are people that do the marketing to find the deals and essentially sell these deals to investors to make a living. This lit a fire under me when I first heard this! But from further research on how wholesalers do business, I have realized that the house hacking method (FHA 203B, 203k...etc) is not ideal when dealing with a wholesaler. If I understand correctly, this is due to wholesalers not wanting/able to deal with a long loan process when holding on to a deal for the investor (correct me if my thought process is wrong). So now I am looking into the BRRRR strategy of using a hard money loan to obtain the deal.

So below are the questions I have to the community (even an answer to just one would be appreciated, thanks!):

1. Do I need a real estate agent anymore if I am working with a wholesaler? I still think I could use one to help analyze COMPS for the property in the neighborhood, but how will the real estate agent be compensated in that situation?

2. Is there still a time period before finalizing the deal to inspect the property (by an inspector) and get bids from contractors to determine the rehab cost? I cannot determine the rehab costs by just looking at pictures on my own and I know time is a key factor for wholesalers.

3. What type of professionals (i.e. inspector, contractors, lawyer, etc.) do ya'll recommend having ready before I make an offer on a wholesaler deal? This is a gap that I feel like a real estate agent usually fills....